Have your say on £25m council cuts

Residents are being encouraged to have their say on how they would make the £25m cut in spending needed by Derbyshire County Council.

An online budget calculator gives residents the chance to experience the choices the council is facing when looking at the budget for the next financial year.

Those taking part can see how their decisions could affect council services.

Coun John Harrison, Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for finance and management, said: “We’re all aware that the country’s economic difficulties are continuing and we need to balance our books.

“We’re doing our best to make the most of the cash we’ve got.”

The budget calculator allows choices to be made about the level of spending across seven council areas:

n Children’s services and education

n Adult social care

n Culture and community services

n Environment and waste

n Community safety and regenerationn Roads and transport

n Council support and public engagement

The budget calculator is also being used by dozens of other authorities across the country.

People not online at home can visit any county council library to use a computer for free. The closing date is December 10, 2012. The decision on the council’s budget will be made in February 2013.